Cost of living in McAllen

In McAllen, United States, a family of four typically needs around $3557 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $1457 monthly.

How expensive is McAllen compared to other cities?

McAllen is 2% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does McAllen compare to your city?

McAllen is 55% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in McAllen is, on average, 69% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in McAllen?

Who is McAllen a good fit for?

McAllen is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is McAllen so expensive?

The primary driver of expenses in McAllen is rent and utilities, which are notably higher than many other areas. This can create a financial strain for those without adequate income.

Is food expensive in McAllen?

Food costs in McAllen are relatively affordable, being 1% lower than the European benchmark. This makes grocery shopping more manageable for residents.

Is public transport affordable in McAllen?

Public transport in McAllen is quite affordable, with costs being 42% lower than the European benchmark. This accessibility can benefit those who rely on public transit.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1457 $
Without Rent
645 $
Rent & Utilities
812 $
Food
471 $
Transport
43 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3831 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
142.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 11 $
Dinner 56.3 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.3 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 4.85 $
Capuccino 4.29 $
Coke, 330ml 2.32 $

Compare McAllen with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.9 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.2 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.48 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.11 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 9.22 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 7.96 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.7 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.16 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.34 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.4 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.26 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.12 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.95 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.41 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 6.95 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 11.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.12 $
Cigarette pack 8.08 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1 $
Monthly Pass 39.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.79 $
Taxi, 8 km 14.2 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 98.3 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 6.62 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 3.88 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.24 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.46 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 130 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 202 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 66.7 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 572 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 996 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 789 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,343 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 1,546 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,576 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,831 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.37%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 41.8 $
Cinema, 1 seat 11.9 $
Haircut 9.59 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 74.1 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 60 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,198 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 13,941 $

Compare McAllen with other top cities

Cayman Islands
McAllen vs George Town (George Town is 150% more expensive)
Bahamas
McAllen vs Nassau (Nassau is 89% more expensive) McAllen vs Freeport (Freeport is 51% more expensive)
Vanuatu
McAllen vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 61% more expensive) McAllen vs Luganville (Luganville is 110% more expensive)
United States
McAllen vs New York City (New York City is 178% more expensive) McAllen vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 119% more expensive) McAllen vs Chicago (Chicago is 83% more expensive) McAllen vs Houston (Houston is 54% more expensive) McAllen vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 63% more expensive) McAllen vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 74% more expensive) McAllen vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 51% more expensive) McAllen vs San Diego (San Diego is 130% more expensive) McAllen vs Dallas (Dallas is 75% more expensive) McAllen vs San Jose (San Jose is 152% more expensive)
Canada
McAllen vs Toronto (Toronto is 77% more expensive) McAllen vs Montreal (Montreal is 34% more expensive) McAllen vs Calgary (Calgary is 47% more expensive) McAllen vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 53% more expensive) McAllen vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 23% more expensive) McAllen vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 20% more expensive) McAllen vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 70% more expensive) McAllen vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 82% more expensive) McAllen vs Brampton (Brampton is 46% more expensive) McAllen vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 48% more expensive)
Barbados
McAllen vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 7% less expensive) McAllen vs Holetown (Holetown is 5% less expensive)
Panama
McAllen vs Panama City (Panama City is 5% less expensive) McAllen vs Colon (Colon is 19% less expensive) McAllen vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 16% less expensive) McAllen vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 28% less expensive) McAllen vs David (David is 43% less expensive) McAllen vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 35% less expensive) McAllen vs Balboa (Balboa is 14% less expensive) McAllen vs Pacora (Pacora is 14% less expensive) McAllen vs Chitre (Chitre is 25% less expensive) McAllen vs Penonome (Penonome is 25% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
McAllen vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 15% less expensive) McAllen vs Cayon (Cayon is 15% less expensive)
Cuba
McAllen vs Havana (Havana is 30% less expensive) McAllen vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 3% less expensive) McAllen vs Holguin (Holguin is 12% less expensive) McAllen vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 5% more expensive) McAllen vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 28% less expensive) McAllen vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 20% less expensive) McAllen vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 7% more expensive) McAllen vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 7% more expensive) McAllen vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 25% less expensive) McAllen vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 40% less expensive)
Costa Rica
McAllen vs San Jose (San Jose is 15% less expensive) McAllen vs Limon (Limon is 18% less expensive) McAllen vs Liberia (Liberia is 38% less expensive) McAllen vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 15% less expensive) McAllen vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 12% less expensive) McAllen vs Cartago (Cartago is 34% less expensive) McAllen vs Heredia (Heredia is 14% less expensive) McAllen vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 16% more expensive) McAllen vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 10% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
McAllen vs Castries (Castries is 20% less expensive) McAllen vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 18% less expensive)
Jamaica
McAllen vs Kingston (Kingston is 9% less expensive) McAllen vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 46% less expensive) McAllen vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 30% less expensive) McAllen vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 20% less expensive) McAllen vs May Pen (May Pen is 44% less expensive) McAllen vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 33% less expensive) McAllen vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 42% less expensive) McAllen vs Linstead (Linstead is 28% less expensive) McAllen vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 23% less expensive) McAllen vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 22% less expensive)
El Salvador
McAllen vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 18% less expensive) McAllen vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 51% less expensive) McAllen vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 19% less expensive) McAllen vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 26% less expensive) McAllen vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 20% less expensive) McAllen vs Apopa (Apopa is 21% less expensive) McAllen vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 18% less expensive) McAllen vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 0% less expensive) McAllen vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 25% less expensive) McAllen vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 39% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
McAllen vs St. John's (St. John's is 26% less expensive) McAllen vs All Saints (All Saints is 26% less expensive)
Grenada
McAllen vs St. George's (St. George's is 27% less expensive) McAllen vs Grenville (Grenville is 27% less expensive)
Dominica
McAllen vs Roseau (Roseau is 31% less expensive) McAllen vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 22% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
McAllen vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 33% less expensive) McAllen vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 31% less expensive)
Belize
McAllen vs Belize City (Belize City is 40% less expensive) McAllen vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 25% less expensive) McAllen vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 50% less expensive) McAllen vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 9% less expensive) McAllen vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 8% more expensive)
Guatemala
McAllen vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 31% less expensive) McAllen vs Mixco (Mixco is 56% less expensive) McAllen vs Coban (Coban is 37% less expensive) McAllen vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 47% less expensive) McAllen vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 38% less expensive) McAllen vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 38% less expensive) McAllen vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 40% less expensive) McAllen vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 40% less expensive) McAllen vs Flores (Flores is 41% less expensive) McAllen vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 46% less expensive)
Honduras
McAllen vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 43% less expensive) McAllen vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 29% less expensive) McAllen vs Choloma (Choloma is 59% less expensive) McAllen vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 55% less expensive) McAllen vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 39% less expensive) McAllen vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 41% less expensive) McAllen vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 51% less expensive) McAllen vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 51% less expensive) McAllen vs Yoro (Yoro is 50% less expensive) McAllen vs La Lima (La Lima is 40% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
McAllen vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 46% less expensive) McAllen vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 28% less expensive) McAllen vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 47% less expensive) McAllen vs Higuey (Higuey is 47% less expensive) McAllen vs La Vega (La Vega is 61% less expensive) McAllen vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 43% less expensive) McAllen vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 50% less expensive) McAllen vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 64% less expensive) McAllen vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 57% less expensive) McAllen vs Bonao (Bonao is 63% less expensive)
Nicaragua
McAllen vs Managua (Managua is 47% less expensive) McAllen vs Leon (Leon is 56% less expensive) McAllen vs Masaya (Masaya is 51% less expensive) McAllen vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 62% less expensive) McAllen vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 56% less expensive) McAllen vs Esteli (Esteli is 59% less expensive) McAllen vs Granada (Granada is 52% less expensive) McAllen vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 69% less expensive) McAllen vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 54% less expensive) McAllen vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 39% less expensive)